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Property/DIY

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Original poster

If you have even the slightest doubt about the house you're buying...

23 replies

Schulte · 09/04/2010 20:32

...would you still go for it? We've become frustrated with the lack of houses on the market and this one is great on paper, big enough, nice garden, reasonable price, needs a lot of modernising but not immediately. The one huge issue DH and I have with it is that it's not in the village we live in at the moment (and which we love and really wanted to stay in) but the next village. So, while the DCs would still go to the same nursery they go to now, once they start school they'd be separated from all their friends (although the school in the other village has a great reputation). We'd have to get in the car every time we wanted to see friends (it's too far to walk really). And, the new village is not as pretty and special as where we live at the moment. I am just so worried that we'll regret it if we buy this house, and that we're making a huge mistake. WWYD?

OP posts:

Earlybird · 09/04/2010 20:36

How long have you been looking?

In your shoes, I'd wait until a house in your village came up. Perhaps your friends can keep an ear to the ground for you, and tip you off early regarding any that might be coming onto the market.

EldonAve · 09/04/2010 20:36

don't buy it

Acanthus · 09/04/2010 20:40

Don't buy it. You'll only have to move 2 years later, like I did.

PollyTechnique · 09/04/2010 20:43

Our previous house was sold to us by owners who had only lived there for 6 months.

They now wanted to move back to the village from where they'd moved, (a three minute drive away), because their children were missing their friends.

A costly misjudgement, but at least they had the courage to admit their mistake and go back.

Location and relationships matter most, IMO.

Original poster

Schulte · 09/04/2010 20:49

Oh dear. I was sort of hoping you'd say it will all be fine. We've been looking since December, but have only had our house under offer for about 4 weeks so it's only now that we're really in a position to make an offer ourselves. I am worried we might lose our buyer if we take too long.

OP posts:

Original poster

Schulte · 09/04/2010 20:51

I should add the dds are only 1 and 3 years old. So for the little one, she hasn't got any friends to lose yet, and the other one is quite good at making new friends all the time...

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Earlybird · 09/04/2010 20:52

In your shoes, if you could afford to do it, I'd sell your current house and move into rented in your current village. When the right house comes up, you'll be in a position to move quickly and will be chain-free.

FiveGoMadInDorset · 09/04/2010 20:54

It will be fine, you can still keep in conatct with friends. Just my opinion.

Original poster

Schulte · 09/04/2010 20:56

We have contemplated that... but it would mean moving twice, with two little ones, and losing some cash over ridiculously high rents. We also know of other families around here who've gone into rented, all waiting for a 3bed semi to come up in our village. There'll be a lot of competition and there'll be a lot of people with a bigger budget than ours

OP posts:

mintyfresh · 09/04/2010 20:56

Could you go into rented? I would also say wait as we bought a house that we weren't 100% sure about and was an awful 18 months until we sold it again.

However, from what you say, the house sounds fine and has potential. Would be the time to move location if you have to with your dds being so young....

traceybath · 09/04/2010 20:56

I think nowadays with how the housing market is - you need to think you could be in your next house for a good few years.

Would you get a similar house in your current village for the same money or would it be smaller because the location is more desirable?

As your dc's are so little I wouldn't worry about their friends too much.

mintyfresh · 09/04/2010 20:57

Sorry cross posted - just ignore me (most people do!)

TheCrackFox · 09/04/2010 20:57

Do you really like the new village? If so buy the house.

A one year old will have no real concept of friendships and a 3 yr old very often changes friends daily.

alyssa1980 · 09/04/2010 20:58

I'm in the don't do it camp too.

I was unsure of our house before we bought it although, like you, it did everything it needed to on paper. For us the area was perfect just the street/style of house wasn't.

I've hated this house ever since and I can't wait to move. If you can, renting is a great option like earlybird said.

I would say though not to worry too much about DC's - they'll be fine as long as you and DH are happy in your house/village.

KirstyJC · 09/04/2010 21:00

I think it depends on whether or not you expect the new house to be one you stay in for a long time. If so, you shouldn't worry about their friends as they will change all the time anyway. DS1 (now 6) went to a school in a different village from the 3 neighbours' kids and he knew absolutely no-one, and he's quite shy. It didn't stop him from making friends immediately at school and he is really popular.

On the other hand, how would you feel about living in a village you don't feel great about? Do you actually know the village well - we are currently looking to move villages, and it was only once we started walking around the new one, chatting to people in the street walking dogs etc that we realise how much the new village had to offer.

Ultimately, if your heart's not in it, don't buy it. All the practicalities in the world won't make you fall for a place - that feeling of 'home' isn't logical. Good luck!

Earlybird · 09/04/2010 21:08

How long have you lived in your current village?

Do you know anyone in the next village? If so, what do they tell you about living there/schools/etc.?

How far away is next village from where you are now?

Original poster

Schulte · 09/04/2010 21:26

Thanks everyone for the help so far. We've been here 4 1/2 years. Moved out of London, considered the surrounding villages, fell in love with this one where we live at the moment, found a house here, have been deliriously happy. Had 2 children, now the house is too small and we're constantly falling over each other. Realistically, there are only 2 roads here that we can afford to buy on. We've leafleted one of them without success. On the other road (which we're not so keen on in the first place as there is quite a bit of traffic going through it) lots of houses got sold last year so not much hope that much will happen this year. There is one beautiful if not very child friendly house that would be big enough for us, but it's right next to a pub so we decided that was a no go. So the size and type of house we want... we'll have to move a bit further away really unless we're incredibly lucky and someone decides to sell on one of those 2 roads I mentioned, and we can beat the competition to it.

This new place... it's got a lot going for it. The school is good, it's very close to the station, the GPs are supposed to be good, you can go for a walk in the woods, there's a bakery and a butchers within walking distance. We're looking for somewhere to stay for the next 10 years or more. But it's just not where we'd want to be in an ideal world. And I don't know anybody who lives in that village who I could ask, either.

OP posts:

Original poster

Schulte · 09/04/2010 21:27

Oh - and we interviewed a random old lady in the street this week who's lived near the new house for a long time and she said it was a great place to live. Except the walk to the station, which is through a small alleyway where I wouldn't want my girls to go on their own. Is that bad?

OP posts:

Original poster

Schulte · 09/04/2010 21:29

Thing is, I keep listing all the good things about the new house in my mind but I keep coming back to that one thing, that it's not in our village It's a no isn't it?

OP posts:

PollyTechnique · 09/04/2010 21:44

Any chance of your circumstances changing in a couple of years re more money to spend in your current village. Is it worth hanging on where you are till you can afford a house that isn't in those two roads?!

Psychologically, can you move on and adopt your new village as properly your new home without constant travelling back to your old one and having regrets?

If you can make a new start (almost as though you'd moved 50 miles away) and enjoy having more room at home, it could work.

Sometimes you do have to be brutally realistic about what you're able to make work. If this move is really your best option and you can come to terms with it then go for it.

Earlybird · 09/04/2010 21:49

YOu must have already considered it - any way to enlarge the house you're in now? Add on, build into the loft, etc.?

alyssa1980 · 09/04/2010 22:06

If you can think of lots of great things about the new house/village but it still doesn't 'feel right' - then it probably isn't.

KoalaSar · 10/04/2010 00:30

take your house off the market - wait 12 months.

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